Dealing with a Critical Incident

Critical Incidents

Working Group 5 was commissioned with developing an update of the current guidance for schools on suicide and self-harm and to develop proposals for a regional approach to the management of critical incidents.

Suicide and Self-harm

The current guidance for schools on suicide and self-harm “Suicide Among Young People: Managing the Issue in Schools”  was published in 1996 and there has been much change since this time.

The new guidance is being developed in line with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s (DHSSPS) Suicide Prevention Strategy “Protect Life: A Shared Vision – The Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2006-2011”  The Department is working alongside DHSSPS in developing the revised Action Plan for 2012-2014.

The new guidance will be published and distributed to all schools during the new school year in autumn 2012.

Managing a Critical Incident

Definition of a critical incident:

“A critical incident may be defined as any sudden and unexpected incident or sequence of events which causes trauma within a school community and which overwhelms the normal coping mechanisms of that school.”

Each Education and Library Board has a Critical Incident Response Team who can be contacted to provide support to schools if required alongside other agencies for example the ICSS (Independent Counselling Service in Schools) which can provide counselling to pupils in both the primary or post-primary sector in response to a critical incident.

Experience has shown that schools which have a Critical Incident Management Plan in place will handle the situation better.  

The guidance will advise schools on how to develop an effective critical incident strategy and is expected to published and distributed to all schools during the new school year in autumn 2012.